Jayhawks secure their first conference win with a 42-14 victory over Houston

Match Review: Football | Oct 19, 2024 5:40 p.m

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas held Houston scoreless in the second half to secure a 42-14 Homecoming victory Saturday afternoon at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas took the ball to open the game and moved 15 plays, 71 yards down the field to take an early 7-0 lead with 5:56 left. The long drive was extended by a 4th-and-1 conversion by the quarterback Jalon Danielsfollowed by a two-yard touchdown from Daniels to the senior tight end Jared CaseyCasey’s first touchdown of the season.

On Kansas’ first defensive possession, senior Cobee Bryant skipped a Houston pass for an interception, his 11th career pick and the first of his three total interceptions on the day. The interception gave Kansas the ball at the Houston 48-yard line.

On the first play of their next offensive possession, Daniels threw a deep ball to the senior Quentin Skinner for a 48-yard touchdown that gave Kansas a 14-0 lead with 2:37 left in the first quarter. The touchdown was Skinner’s third touchdown of the season, with all touchdowns coming in the last two games.

Kansas’ offense continued to roll in the second quarter as the Jayhawks found a 40-yard pass from Daniels to the senior Lawrence Arnoldfollowed by a 37-yard rush on the next play to put Kansas in position at the 1-yard line. Just two games later, senior Devin Neal punched the ball in for a two-yard touchdown, his 39th career rushing touchdown, to make the score 21-0 with 10:59 left in the half.

Houston got back into the game with a 23-yard touchdown pass on its next drive, but Kansas had an answer when Daniels found Casey for the second time in the game, putting the Jayhawks back on top 28-7 with 3:33 to play brought half. Houston scored again on its next drive and had another chance to score before halftime, but Bryant made his second interception of the game to end the drive and send Kansas into halftime with a 28-14 lead.

Outside halftime, Bryant made his third interception of the game on a Houston deep ball, tying the Kansas school record for most interceptions in a single game. It was also the first time since 1958 (Bill Crank vs. Tulane) that a Jayhawk had three or more interceptions in a game.

Later in the third quarter, Kansas’ defense once again proved strong. While Houston was in Jayhawk territory, redshirt junior defensive tackle DJ Withers recorded two sacks on back-to-back plays to force a Cougar punt. The two sacks were Withers’ first of his career.

Kansas extended its lead early in the fourth quarter when Daniels found the end zone on the ground this time and rushed for an 8-yard score that gave Kansas a 35-14 lead. The touchdown was Daniels’ fourth of the game and ninth in the last two games against Houston.

Houston then took over at its own 25-yard line before Smith’s pass attempt was blocked by him Dean Miller and intercepted by Cornell WheelerKansas’ fourth interception of the game. The last time Kansas had four interceptions in a game as a team was on September 8, 2023 at Central Michigan.

After recording his season-long rush for a 54-yard gain, Neal hit his second rushing touchdown of the game, capping a 108-yard performance on the ground.

A JB Brown The sack on 4th-and-6 forced a turnover on downs, and Kansas ran out the clock to secure its first Big 12 Conference win of the 2024 season.

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The 122nd edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State will take place on Saturday, October 26th in Manhattan.